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Sunday, May 29, 2016

ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS


This is a sight I would like to see a lot more often. An illegal dirt bike that was operating off road in Colt's Park was seized today by HPD. The operator had the misfortune of trying to race through the park and stalling his bike in front of a South CSO. HPD closed in, the bike was seized and towed, and hopefully , after legislation that was passed this last session, it will be headed for the crusher.

I attend a lot of community meetings throughout the City. I have never once heard someone say they were considering moving because they were fed up over shootings or even homicides ( both of which are on the decline this year) I have heard plenty of people say they are fed up with the noise and the danger presented on our streets by illegal dirt bikes and ATV''s.

They are a menace pure and simple  and a definitely an adverse quality of life issues. Unfortunately, this one dirt bike is only one of thousands of them on our streets. More efforts like this one though will  gfo a lonbg ways toward sending a message. A well publicized "community crushing" will also help.

These ATV's are a huge thorn in the side of HPD, but a few weekends of  directed patrols to combat this nuisance will definitely help. Unmarked vehicles to track  the offenders , and maybe putting a few hours on a Homeland Security chopper will send a real strong message.

In the mean time,HPD has to make a concerted effort to respond to the community complaints when they are reported. If the community is going to be encouraged to report the where abouts of these ATV's, they deserve a response. Their reports can not just be logged in and cleared by a dispatcher because HPD is busy. They need to be a priority before someone, either an illegal operator or an  innocent driver or pedestrian is killed

In the meantime, good job to all  HPD Officers getting this ATV on the hook  and out of the Park.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

ANOTHER CONVICTED FELON WITH A GUN, A SHOTGUN ON A BIKE

Double click on the image below to enlarge for reading.

It is a Holiday weekend and this is the best I could get from Foley



Friday, May 27, 2016

"TAKE ME OUT TO THE COURTROOM"


I don't think we will be seeing any peanuts or cracker jacks at Dunkin Donut's Park this year, and possibly for some time. Unfortunately we probably won't be seeing any of those related jobs for the Park that were promised to Hartford's residents (please put those home buying plans or college plans on hold until some real jobs come through) Hartford taxpayers are still footing the bill for this colossal mess. But, at least the lawyers will be  kept busy and making money. Luckily very few Hartford contractors got work on the project , so we wont be bankrupting them at least.

I wonder how much longer Dunkin Donuts will honor their agreement and allow their good name to be associated with this mess? Right now, there is no benefit to them or any of the other corporate sponsors that were lined up for the season

STATEMENT: MAYOR BRONIN CALLS THE PERFORMANCE BOND ON DONO BASEBALL STADIUM DEVELOPER 
CENTERPLAN CONSTRUCTION CO.“At this point, the developers have repeatedly missed deadlines 
and, we believe, continue to run over-budget. We have no choice but to bring the surety to 
the table to manage and finance completion of the ballpark.” — Mayor Luke Bronin

Hartford, Conn. (May 27, 2016) — BACKGROUND: Today, Mayor Luke Bronin officially called 
the $47,050,000 performance bond on DoNo baseball stadium developer Centerplan Construction
Company, asserting that they have defaulted on the Design Build Agreement they have with
the City (Click here to read the official letter sent to the surety: . Mayor Bronin also
made the following on-the-record statement regarding today’s action:

“This afternoon, the City formally notified the surety, Arch Insurance Company, that the 
developer has failed to perform their obligations, and that the surety has a duty to make 
sure the project is completed at no further cost to the taxpayer of Hartford. Back in
January, when it became clear that the developers were far behind schedule and millions 
over budget, we brought all parties to the table to finance the gap. That was the right 
thing to do to keep things moving. At this point, however, the developers have repeatedly
missed deadlines and, we believe, continue to run over-budget. We have no choice but to
bring the surety to the table to manage and finance completion of the ballpark. The 
developer has threatened to abandon the job if we call the bond, but to do that would 
be another breach of contract. They have a clear obligation to keep working, and if they
believe that calling the bond wash¹t necessary, they can prove it by finishing the job 
as soon as possible with the resources they’ve been given.”

NBC CONNECTICUT TROUBLESHOOTERS REPORT ON BOE MIAMI TRIP

MAYOR BRONIN: KENEY PARK GOLF COURSE AWARDED RENOVATION OF THE YEAR BY GOLF INC. MAGAZINE

Today, Mayor Luke Bronin announced that Hartford’s Keney Park Golf Course has been awarded “Renovation of the Year 2016” by Golf Inc. magazine.

“Keney Park Golf Course is one of Hartford’s many treasures,” said Mayor Bronin. “The award brings national attention to this beautiful, historic, and newly restored 18-hole course that is already proving to be a destination of choice for golfers throughout Hartford and the Greater Hartford Region. I encourage golfers of all ages — and levels of ability — to come play a round at one of the best courses in the state.”

The 18-hole, par 70 golf course occupies 6,014 yards of Hartford’s historic 700-acre Keney Park, located in the city’s North End. The first nine holes of the Keney Park Golf Course were finished in 1927, and the remaining nine were completed in 1930.

In 2013, the City closed the course after a contractor that had been operating it since 2009 allowed the course to deteriorate, failing to make required capital improvements. The contractor also cut down hundreds of trees without proper permission.

Two judges for Golf Inc., in awarding Keney Park Golf Course this honor, specifically noted that the renovation was grounded in history.

“So much great golf course design has been erased under the guise of ‘renovation improvements,’” said Forrest Richardson, owner of a golf course architecture firm and former winner of a Renovation of the Year project. “The work here is not only grounded in history, but it brings golfers face to face with an era of design that has all but vanished.”

“Excellent restoration and modernization of the infrastructure of this course,” said Oscar Rodriguez, Vice President of Heritage Links, who has a distinguished background in golf construction. “All while embracing the history of the site.”

On May 1, 2016, Keney Park Golf Course officially re-opened to the public for the first time in three years. Currently, the course is open from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, seven days a week.

  *   Click here to read the story in Golf Inc. magazine: http://bit.ly/1VjNzwX.
  *   Click here for photos of Keney Park Golf Course: http://bit.ly/1TC482p.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

The raw, unedited video below is of the Hartford Stadium Authority's meeting earlier today. During that meeting the members voted unanimously to "call the bond" on the Dunkin Donuts Park stadium

Many of you have called me to ask me what happened, so here it is.